Of course some media outlets and people are all, "Woohoo, the shutdown is over!" and you know that Barry is patting himself on the back all smug while chattin' on a conference call with Jay-Z and Bill Maher. Meanwhile, I'm waking up trying to convince my two year old that yes he wants pancakes for breakfast, and no he cannot have orange juice and trying to not to call up my congressional "representatives" (it's awesome how much the retiring senator from my district is being criticized on his facebook page for voting yes) and tell them that they're the biggest idiots ever for going with it.(Here are the links if you want to see how your House Rep voted, and to see if your Senator was one of the 18 who voted against the legislation). So, if you saw the facebook page (seriously, if you haven't like it already, go like it, it's where the Snark is when I can't blog) you know what's coming in today's blog -- lessons we should have learned from the shutdown. So while your people on the Hill are probably nursing some hangovers from last night's parties (please, you know they were all out at a fundraiser or cocktail party or some ritzy bar to celebrate or commiserate), let's get down to the nitty gritty according to, well, me (how does one say me in Chinese?)
- This isn't a long term solution. In fact, this is far from a long term solution. Prepare for another shutdown come January because that's how long this snippet of legislation is good through. The government is funded through 15 January, the treasury will reach its limit 07 February. And be prepared for a bigger, dirtier fight as next year is a midterm year and those with seats up for grabs will hopefully have a change of heart and actually listen to their constituents or risk losing their seat. The race is already on in certain areas (Mitch, you know your seat is up for grabs, however I have faith in my fellow Kentuckians will rally and replace you with another Rand), and it'll just get better if the government shuts down again in January. And don't expect an actual budget to be passed, by forcing these continuing resolutions to pass to fund the government, it gives the executive branch the power to keep on scaremongering that we're going to be in a tailspin if something doesn't happen. Until an actual budget is passed and the government learns how to be fiscally responsible things won't get better -- and I don't expect an actual budget to pass until Barry is out of office (remember, an actual budget hasn't been passed since 2009, and still in 2010 the Democrats held the majority in both houses and held the White House so there was no reason why they shouldn't have passed a budget -- yes I do have my conspiracies, but we'll say those for later).
- Funding piece by piece might have been genius. It started to show what actually needed to be funded by the government and what should switch to privatized funding. I've been a fan of privatizing PBS, NPR, etc for a while now -- in fact they've even stated that most of their funding comes from private funding, so if that's the case, they shouldn't have a problem fully being privatized or adjusting their budgets in order to make do without government funding. Head start should be funded by the state or fully private funding. I know that sounds horrible, but having the federal government fund head start programs seems pretty pointless to me. I did do preschool but I just remember painting, coloring, singing songs and learning the ABCs and how to count to like ten. Now we have head start and kindergarten classes essentially structured like a grade school class. Great, but is it necessary? For me, the only real positive to a head start is socialization for the kiddos. And now it's become such a huge thing that states have lotteries to get their kids in, really? Awesome, let's have parents stress out about that too. Bottom line, it's a state issue of how they want to handle it, not the government (and seriously, after Michelle's meddling with school lunches and that epic failure, should we really let the federal government continue to meddle with funding our public schools?). I've already stated that we can ditch Homeland Security, that will open up a ton of funding for the government. The fact is, the American people need to realize that the federal government cannot and should not fund everything and anything just because you think you have a right to it (I think I have the right to drive a Range Rover and wear nothing but Lilly, but it doesn't mean that it's going to happen because we cannot afford that). Oh and food stamps and WIC need to be state funded, start soliciting monies from the formula companies, the big food companies, and you know what, offer incentives to your farmers.
- We are no longer the most powerful nation to be feared by the world. We are beggars y'all. It might be time to go ahead and purchase a Rosetta Stone, Chinese Edition and get cracking. From what I remember from my economics classes, it's good for the country to be in some debt, but this much debt and then ask for more? Yeah, no. The longer people in the nation are ok with the freeloaders being freeloaders and not demanding accountability and reform, we'll never get back to being great because we'll be at the mercy of whomever we're borrowing money from.
- Our 80, 90 year old vets have more guts to stand up and fight against the Administration and Congress than those who supposedly represent us. At what point will more Americans take a cue from our Greatest Generation? During WWII, Americans didn't rely on the government for everything -- they grew their own food, lived within their means, rationed what needed to be rationed and chugged along. Here we are, over sixty years later complaining that we can't get free fatty cakes with every meal, that we don't have the latest designer jeans, that we're not getting our free phones and that everyone should have healthcare even though it's not financially feasible, even though it's called the Affordable Care Act. Clearly for a lot of Americans, personal responsibility has gone out the window. Of course, for some people in power they want everyone to rely on the government. Me? I think big government is a recipe for disaster.
There are other things that should have been learned, but unfortunately B is going mad so I need to take care of that. I'll leave you with this though, make fun of the Tea Party, the Libertarians and any other conservative that doesn't trust either political party and/or the government these days all you want, but honestly, I'm thinking that sportin' a tinfoil hat isn't such a bad thing.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Re-edumacation
So I was up quite early this morning thanks to hubby's PT alarm and decided to do a quick scan of articles posted on facebook. I love that more people reposted the Daily Currant's story concerning the impeachment of the President. Honestly until I saw that last night, I had never heard of Daily Currant or if I have I don't remember it, but I did a quick scour of the majors to find out. Well, suspicions confirmed thanks to a look through and then a text from Rambling Mom (Happy Birthday!) to definitely say that it's satire and I went on with my night. The lesson learned people, if it seems too good to be true these days, then it's probably false. Anyway, I saw something about how DC should shutdown once a year (which I kind of think is a great idea). Then the usual shutdown, I blame X, Y but not Z for this shutdown. And then I found this awesome little gem on The Blaze.
I think that Common Core does nothing but hurt our education system. I suck at math, hubby can vouch for that as I've been no help to him in his college algebra class that he's taking this semester. But with Common Core, I'd be a math superstar because if there's one thing I learned in all my political science classes, it was how to bullshit my way through an argument -- and in Common Core math classes, as long as you can explain the wrong answer well that's good enough. Stop right there, this whole good enough thing is crap and teaches our younger generations nothing. Obviously I think it's a conspiracy to groom them to be so complacent and rely on the government and not excel and think for themselves, but anyway. So a common core school outside the district (how convenient) put out this supposedly anonymous survey that was allegedly (anyone else remember those old Starr Jones skits on SNL when they say allegedly? Yeah, that's how it sounded in my head) put together by students. Well of course the school district is saying that people have nothing to fear and that there will be no repercussions based on these "anonymous" student responses. Raise your hand if you're buying that? Raise your hand if you remember every completing a survey like this when you were in school? I sure as hell don't. While I never knew who my parents were voting for (even though I'd beg and plead with them and had my own opinions of candidates since '92, I remember being very disappointed that Clinton won because my little seven year old brain just didn't trust the guy), I could guess based on what was talked about around the dinner table sometimes. Now granted if it is a truly anonymous survey, some of the questions I could care less about (gender, siblings, which neck of Montgomery County do you live), but asking what religion you identify with or what ethnicity you identify with (I always love that question because I put Asian-Pacific Islander and no one every believes me even though I'm well within the legit limits to claim it), household income (really, does any sophomore know exactly what their parents bring in? I mean, I knew growing up that we were fairly well off, but I couldn't tell you exactly where we fell), sexual orientation, and then all the Obamacare, shutdown and the are you a racist question, these are all ridiculous. I fully believe this is to shame kids with well off parents (no matter what their ethnicity because it's not just rich, white people in Montgomery County) and to become the sheeple that this administration relies on. If you start grooming them early and identify who doesn't fit into the mold by using these surveys, you can adjust expectations and education. It's sad that the education of these younger generations are being driven by partisan politics rather than basic facts, and that just trying gets them by.
I think that Common Core does nothing but hurt our education system. I suck at math, hubby can vouch for that as I've been no help to him in his college algebra class that he's taking this semester. But with Common Core, I'd be a math superstar because if there's one thing I learned in all my political science classes, it was how to bullshit my way through an argument -- and in Common Core math classes, as long as you can explain the wrong answer well that's good enough. Stop right there, this whole good enough thing is crap and teaches our younger generations nothing. Obviously I think it's a conspiracy to groom them to be so complacent and rely on the government and not excel and think for themselves, but anyway. So a common core school outside the district (how convenient) put out this supposedly anonymous survey that was allegedly (anyone else remember those old Starr Jones skits on SNL when they say allegedly? Yeah, that's how it sounded in my head) put together by students. Well of course the school district is saying that people have nothing to fear and that there will be no repercussions based on these "anonymous" student responses. Raise your hand if you're buying that? Raise your hand if you remember every completing a survey like this when you were in school? I sure as hell don't. While I never knew who my parents were voting for (even though I'd beg and plead with them and had my own opinions of candidates since '92, I remember being very disappointed that Clinton won because my little seven year old brain just didn't trust the guy), I could guess based on what was talked about around the dinner table sometimes. Now granted if it is a truly anonymous survey, some of the questions I could care less about (gender, siblings, which neck of Montgomery County do you live), but asking what religion you identify with or what ethnicity you identify with (I always love that question because I put Asian-Pacific Islander and no one every believes me even though I'm well within the legit limits to claim it), household income (really, does any sophomore know exactly what their parents bring in? I mean, I knew growing up that we were fairly well off, but I couldn't tell you exactly where we fell), sexual orientation, and then all the Obamacare, shutdown and the are you a racist question, these are all ridiculous. I fully believe this is to shame kids with well off parents (no matter what their ethnicity because it's not just rich, white people in Montgomery County) and to become the sheeple that this administration relies on. If you start grooming them early and identify who doesn't fit into the mold by using these surveys, you can adjust expectations and education. It's sad that the education of these younger generations are being driven by partisan politics rather than basic facts, and that just trying gets them by.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Monday Monday Monday Blah
First off, thank you all for coming and reading my madness! As of last week I had over 1,000 page views -- I honestly didn't think that would happen as quickly as it did. Thank you all for reading, for sharing, for laughing, for rolling your eyes, and just clicking on the link. You all are awesome.
Now onto the Monday Morning Recap...
I was super bummed that I couldn't have snuck up to see my family yesterday and participate in the Million Vet March. Our vets are the greatest and do not deserve the disrespect that the administration and others are giving them. What upsets me though is the images and reports that were coming in on twitter and facebook: these peaceful protesters were treated as hostile enemy combatants essentially (ok maybe a slight exaggeration on my part, but still). They were greeted by SWAT, mounted police, and of course the NPS (who rightfully did nothing because they recognize how ridiculous this is). It's a stark contrast to a week ago when there was an immigration rally on the "closed" Mall, no SWAT, little police presence (and my guess is absolutely no ICE presence because God forbid someone feel that they're being profiled... wwwwaaaahhhhh). Oh and the immigration rally got port-a-potties too. I guess they figure that since our vets are used to shoddy conditions they don't need such things? It's just sad that people who are here illegally are shown more respect and curtsey than our the men and women who have fought valiantly for our country and for keeping the basic rights of our once great nation in tact -- well, until this administration came in and decided that the Constitution is just a guideline rather than the law of the land.
We're still in a shutdown, or a slimdown as many "news outlets" are calling it. A slimdown would be something that is fully functioning on a limited budget -- from my understanding, we're not there yet. I don't foresee an end to this soon and honestly, I'm ok with that. I don't blame House members who are making an effort to get needed programs funded rather than just say, ok let's fund everything and hope for the best -- even though that's not what the American people want. But you know, it's ok because no one knows what the people want better than the dude sitting up in that big fancy house on Pennsylvania Ave (and yes, I think they should be evicted from it since it's federal property and other people who own houses on federal park property have been kicked out of their houses as well during this shutdown). We won't even get into the wreck that is Ocrapcare as I'm so fond of calling it. But now we enter the phase where Congress is going to discuss the debt ceiling. Read this and try not to roll your eyes so much. Someone needs to show O this speech as he rallies and tries to panic the American people with not raising the debt level. Here's my solution, everyone from the freshmen Congressmen to the administration are up for election in 2014 and can be challenged to keep their seats. I'm over these career politicians, the politicians who are crazy partisan, the ones who don't listen to the American people and the ones that treat the Constitution as a guideline and just do whatever the hell they want.
Finally, it happened again yesterday on facebook. I shared this on my personal page because that's where it happened, but within two weeks on now both my personal and the Morning Snark Report page I have receive an error message saying that I don't have access to a link or it is broken. It's usually when I click on a notification that involves my politics. The status that supposedly broke last night? "Holy crap. So over this PC bs. Let the Redskins stay the Redskins and keep the politics out of it. People need to quit being so butthurt over dumb things, and need to start railing over the things that matter -- like the President wanting to raise the debt ceiling even though he was against it when he was a Senator from Illinois." Facebook is starting to make me feel like some crazy conspiracy theory nutjob, and while I don't mind it too much, it's slightly unnerving. But it also makes me like I feel like I'm doing something right -- I mean, on facebook Morning Snark Report only has 30 followers, scary numbers I know. Maybe I should contact Daisy & Mock and see what they think.
Hope everyone had a great weekend, happy Monday y'all!
Now onto the Monday Morning Recap...
I was super bummed that I couldn't have snuck up to see my family yesterday and participate in the Million Vet March. Our vets are the greatest and do not deserve the disrespect that the administration and others are giving them. What upsets me though is the images and reports that were coming in on twitter and facebook: these peaceful protesters were treated as hostile enemy combatants essentially (ok maybe a slight exaggeration on my part, but still). They were greeted by SWAT, mounted police, and of course the NPS (who rightfully did nothing because they recognize how ridiculous this is). It's a stark contrast to a week ago when there was an immigration rally on the "closed" Mall, no SWAT, little police presence (and my guess is absolutely no ICE presence because God forbid someone feel that they're being profiled... wwwwaaaahhhhh). Oh and the immigration rally got port-a-potties too. I guess they figure that since our vets are used to shoddy conditions they don't need such things? It's just sad that people who are here illegally are shown more respect and curtsey than our the men and women who have fought valiantly for our country and for keeping the basic rights of our once great nation in tact -- well, until this administration came in and decided that the Constitution is just a guideline rather than the law of the land.
We're still in a shutdown, or a slimdown as many "news outlets" are calling it. A slimdown would be something that is fully functioning on a limited budget -- from my understanding, we're not there yet. I don't foresee an end to this soon and honestly, I'm ok with that. I don't blame House members who are making an effort to get needed programs funded rather than just say, ok let's fund everything and hope for the best -- even though that's not what the American people want. But you know, it's ok because no one knows what the people want better than the dude sitting up in that big fancy house on Pennsylvania Ave (and yes, I think they should be evicted from it since it's federal property and other people who own houses on federal park property have been kicked out of their houses as well during this shutdown). We won't even get into the wreck that is Ocrapcare as I'm so fond of calling it. But now we enter the phase where Congress is going to discuss the debt ceiling. Read this and try not to roll your eyes so much. Someone needs to show O this speech as he rallies and tries to panic the American people with not raising the debt level. Here's my solution, everyone from the freshmen Congressmen to the administration are up for election in 2014 and can be challenged to keep their seats. I'm over these career politicians, the politicians who are crazy partisan, the ones who don't listen to the American people and the ones that treat the Constitution as a guideline and just do whatever the hell they want.
Finally, it happened again yesterday on facebook. I shared this on my personal page because that's where it happened, but within two weeks on now both my personal and the Morning Snark Report page I have receive an error message saying that I don't have access to a link or it is broken. It's usually when I click on a notification that involves my politics. The status that supposedly broke last night? "Holy crap. So over this PC bs. Let the Redskins stay the Redskins and keep the politics out of it. People need to quit being so butthurt over dumb things, and need to start railing over the things that matter -- like the President wanting to raise the debt ceiling even though he was against it when he was a Senator from Illinois." Facebook is starting to make me feel like some crazy conspiracy theory nutjob, and while I don't mind it too much, it's slightly unnerving. But it also makes me like I feel like I'm doing something right -- I mean, on facebook Morning Snark Report only has 30 followers, scary numbers I know. Maybe I should contact Daisy & Mock and see what they think.
Hope everyone had a great weekend, happy Monday y'all!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Early Morning Pre-Coffee Rant
Warning: I'm half asleep and on the iPad but let's do this anyway.
The government is still shut down and honestly is anyone surprised? It doesn't matter how hard the House will try to compromise while still maintaining a facade of listening to the people (granted I think some reps legitimately are -- no good for them, it's a part of their job so it needs to happen), the administration has told those enforcing the shutdown to make it as hard as possible on the people. I mean closing open air monuments and paying people to stand guard when normally these monuments are minimally guarded, if at all, on a normal basis? Way to go King Barry. Anyway one of the words used to describe the tactics of the administration and Senate democrats is thuggery, which is quite fitting for what is really bothering me, Ocrapcare care.
At five am the last thing I really want to see is a friend sharing a link from the HuffPo about how great Ocrapcare is and how it is a positive effect on society. Ummmm, really? Telling people that they must purchase health care or risk being taxed around of $4500 a year or risk losing their driver's license (real smart given that if it's person who makes just enough to not qualify for subsidies but not enough to survive paying that tax and then their means to getting to their job(s) gets taken away and they live in an area with a limited public transportation system -- yeah totally makes sense), and then possibly facing a tax lien against their house if they are lucky enough to have bought a house in the first place. Ok so I know the tax lien kicks in after twenty four months of non-payment on this tax but considering the IRS is running that part and we all know how non-partisan that agency is, I'm sure they'll stick to the rules. Plus, the last thing I would want is to basically sign over my bank account information to these thugs. If we opted out and paid that ridiculous tax, we would create a separate bank account that would contain just enough to cover what we would owe. Yes I said it, I wouldn't trust the government to take money out of our main checking account. Some days it's tempting just to live out of coffee cans and stashes in the mattress honestly. To me, straight up forcing people to purchase health care or be taxed is nothing but thuggery.
Now, here's a thought that came across my head in my pre-caffeine haze, how dare they tell me what to do with my body and it's health dammit. If you didn't giggle at that just a little bit just stop. If you're confused, just stop. This base is all about the "it's my body" argument when it comes to abortion that it's absolutely ridiculous. Why doesn't that argument resonate with them here? Maybe because they're all getting subsidies and stuff but still, shouldn't they have a consistent argument for all things concerning your body? (Yes I am anti-baby killing, because my body might be carrying a baby, but it is not my place to decide if that baby lives or dies because its their tiny body and if I didn't want to be pregnant well I should have been more careful then) Back to the subject at hand, if it is my body and I should be able to do with it as I please the. Why should the government tell me that I must purchase health care for it? What if I don't believe in modern western medicine? What if it goes against my religion (stop laughing, I know that these crazies only believe in anything but Christianity -- I mean even the Catholic Church is now refusing communion to Nancy)? The fact is if this whole "my body" argument works for the pro-abortion base, then why shouldn't it work for the whole anti-Ocrapcare base? And how upset would they be if we just hijacked that argument and spun it around? That'd be pretty awesome.
But I'm fading so off to grab another hour or two of sleep before my little monster wakes up. I truly want to know how Ocrapcare and this shutdown is affecting you all though, positives and negatives because I'm truly curious. Drop a line in the comments, on the Facebook or email morningsnarker@outlook.com.
The government is still shut down and honestly is anyone surprised? It doesn't matter how hard the House will try to compromise while still maintaining a facade of listening to the people (granted I think some reps legitimately are -- no good for them, it's a part of their job so it needs to happen), the administration has told those enforcing the shutdown to make it as hard as possible on the people. I mean closing open air monuments and paying people to stand guard when normally these monuments are minimally guarded, if at all, on a normal basis? Way to go King Barry. Anyway one of the words used to describe the tactics of the administration and Senate democrats is thuggery, which is quite fitting for what is really bothering me, Ocrapcare care.
At five am the last thing I really want to see is a friend sharing a link from the HuffPo about how great Ocrapcare is and how it is a positive effect on society. Ummmm, really? Telling people that they must purchase health care or risk being taxed around of $4500 a year or risk losing their driver's license (real smart given that if it's person who makes just enough to not qualify for subsidies but not enough to survive paying that tax and then their means to getting to their job(s) gets taken away and they live in an area with a limited public transportation system -- yeah totally makes sense), and then possibly facing a tax lien against their house if they are lucky enough to have bought a house in the first place. Ok so I know the tax lien kicks in after twenty four months of non-payment on this tax but considering the IRS is running that part and we all know how non-partisan that agency is, I'm sure they'll stick to the rules. Plus, the last thing I would want is to basically sign over my bank account information to these thugs. If we opted out and paid that ridiculous tax, we would create a separate bank account that would contain just enough to cover what we would owe. Yes I said it, I wouldn't trust the government to take money out of our main checking account. Some days it's tempting just to live out of coffee cans and stashes in the mattress honestly. To me, straight up forcing people to purchase health care or be taxed is nothing but thuggery.
Now, here's a thought that came across my head in my pre-caffeine haze, how dare they tell me what to do with my body and it's health dammit. If you didn't giggle at that just a little bit just stop. If you're confused, just stop. This base is all about the "it's my body" argument when it comes to abortion that it's absolutely ridiculous. Why doesn't that argument resonate with them here? Maybe because they're all getting subsidies and stuff but still, shouldn't they have a consistent argument for all things concerning your body? (Yes I am anti-baby killing, because my body might be carrying a baby, but it is not my place to decide if that baby lives or dies because its their tiny body and if I didn't want to be pregnant well I should have been more careful then) Back to the subject at hand, if it is my body and I should be able to do with it as I please the. Why should the government tell me that I must purchase health care for it? What if I don't believe in modern western medicine? What if it goes against my religion (stop laughing, I know that these crazies only believe in anything but Christianity -- I mean even the Catholic Church is now refusing communion to Nancy)? The fact is if this whole "my body" argument works for the pro-abortion base, then why shouldn't it work for the whole anti-Ocrapcare base? And how upset would they be if we just hijacked that argument and spun it around? That'd be pretty awesome.
But I'm fading so off to grab another hour or two of sleep before my little monster wakes up. I truly want to know how Ocrapcare and this shutdown is affecting you all though, positives and negatives because I'm truly curious. Drop a line in the comments, on the Facebook or email morningsnarker@outlook.com.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Holidays Smolidays
I want to start by apologizing if this is riddled with errors. My laptop is being occupied so I'm writing on the iPad. Blah. Anyway, it's October 4th and per our usual morning routine, B gets breakfast & Disney Junior while I get stuff organized for the day and blog. Today though it's all about Halloween on Disney Junior. What the heck? We really couldn't wait a few more weeks? It's like how the day after Halloween, Christmas stuff starts to go up. We don't start watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" until mid-October because Benny really loves Charlie Brown holiday specials and would watch them year round if I let him. The point is, why in the last decade or so have we turned each holiday into some elaborate commercial thing? For me it totally takes away the meaning and/or specialness of that particular holiday (screw valentines day which is just a legit commercial holiday, I think hubby thanks me for not celebrating it).
But going back to Halloween, when also did it become acceptable for females of all ages now to slut it out? Ok I get it in college, especially freshman year, but to have 12 year olds be "sexy kitties" or post college ladies be "sexy cops" isn't cute. No one wants to see that -- especially on young girls. But again it boils down to a lack of parenting (or a lack of growing up for the older ladies), and I wonder if you don't let your kid dress like a slut every day then why is it ok to encourage it on Halloween? We should be encouraging fun, cute costumes that keep our children children. And for the parents taking your kid trick or treating, if you dress up then be a positive example for you child in your costume choice -- don't scour Pinterest and the stores for the sluttiest thing possible (unless you and your husband are into that and are keeping it behind closed doors, whatever). Once again I wish we could throw back to the 40s and 50s.
But going back to Halloween, when also did it become acceptable for females of all ages now to slut it out? Ok I get it in college, especially freshman year, but to have 12 year olds be "sexy kitties" or post college ladies be "sexy cops" isn't cute. No one wants to see that -- especially on young girls. But again it boils down to a lack of parenting (or a lack of growing up for the older ladies), and I wonder if you don't let your kid dress like a slut every day then why is it ok to encourage it on Halloween? We should be encouraging fun, cute costumes that keep our children children. And for the parents taking your kid trick or treating, if you dress up then be a positive example for you child in your costume choice -- don't scour Pinterest and the stores for the sluttiest thing possible (unless you and your husband are into that and are keeping it behind closed doors, whatever). Once again I wish we could throw back to the 40s and 50s.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Overhaul
So I got some inspiration from a post on the facebook page yesterday when I posted a question, and I like it when this sort of inspiration hits. Yesterday I touched a little bit on some programs I think need to be overhauled, and today it's happening again. It's sad that military pay protection had to be a rushed bill in order to make sure the soldiers didn't go without pay -- it should have been under mandatory spending a long time ago in my personal opinion. However, do you know what is under mandatory spending? Unemployment. Yep, that's right, you can still collect your government paychecks for not having a job, but Congress had to mess around and pass a bill to protect military pay. For. Shame. I have never been a fan of welfare, I was in high school and would often have this chat with two of my teachers my senior year, and my thoughts have never changed despite being explained the economic necessity of a small (like way smaller than what it is right now) unemployed population. I will say that for the people who legitimately were fired and are on a serious search for a new job who collect unemployment, I have no qualms against you -- although you seem to be few and far between, I thank you for not abusing the system.
Abusing the system? Really? Yes, really. There are too many people who fake job search just so they can keep collecting unemployment. But that's just silly, why would anyone do such a thing? Well, for starters because they might be making more collecting unemployment than they would at a part time job they feel is "beneath" them. If you haven't heard about this, please pull your head out of the sand. While it seems that most states let you have six months, many of these states will allow extensions of another six months. There should be no extensions and you shouldn't be able to reapply year after year after year. Yes, that is something I have heard about -- someone will get a job right before they're about to stop receiving benefits and then once they can reapply for benefits will do whatever to get fired from their job and start receiving unemployment again. I know that the economic situation sucks, I'm not completely sheltered in my house, however I do know that there's something. The local Kroger had a laundry list of positions it needs to fill. Now I can also tell you a fun little story about a former crazy neighbor of mine. When we moved to our current duty station this neighbor felt it was her duty to tell my husband that she would talk with me concerning how I can get unemployment benefits. Um excuse me, but what right does anyone have to assume our work situation and educate me on how the system works without my asking for help? None. But yet she told me how I could obtain benefits and just live off that even though I knew I wasn't going to work but be a stay at home mom for a while. I wasn't going to actively look for work so why would I steal benefits from someone who actually needs them?
So how we do overhaul? Here's what I would do:
- You can apply for benefits for no more than six months in a three year period.
- You must be interviewed at least three times a week, if a job offer is made and you refuse it, no
more benefits for that three year period. (I know this seems insane, but just go with me)
- You must have proof of citizenship
- If you are found to be using your benefits for things other than housing, essential food,
transportation, clothes necessary for interviews and potential jobs then you will be banned from
collecting benefits-- meaning buying Xboxes, Louis Vuitton purses, expensive sneakers, etc.
This will be a lifetime ban, not just wait three years and apply again. People who pay into the
system don't work their tails off so you can use your unemployment benefits for unnecessary
luxury items.
I know that seems sort of crazy, but the fact is we as a society need to help people become less dependent on the government and learn how to be dependent upon themselves and take personal responsibility. Who knows, perhaps this would help aid in our fight against illegal immigrants. If more American citizens were taking jobs that normally are held by that group, then there's less incentive to just come into our country, get paid (and in some cases collect other entitlements) and send that money back to their home country. The money that legal citizens could put back into the system would definitely help. The bottom line is, honestly, unemployment is a privilege, not an entitlement and people need to realize that -- there's no reason that we should have to pay anyone.
Abusing the system? Really? Yes, really. There are too many people who fake job search just so they can keep collecting unemployment. But that's just silly, why would anyone do such a thing? Well, for starters because they might be making more collecting unemployment than they would at a part time job they feel is "beneath" them. If you haven't heard about this, please pull your head out of the sand. While it seems that most states let you have six months, many of these states will allow extensions of another six months. There should be no extensions and you shouldn't be able to reapply year after year after year. Yes, that is something I have heard about -- someone will get a job right before they're about to stop receiving benefits and then once they can reapply for benefits will do whatever to get fired from their job and start receiving unemployment again. I know that the economic situation sucks, I'm not completely sheltered in my house, however I do know that there's something. The local Kroger had a laundry list of positions it needs to fill. Now I can also tell you a fun little story about a former crazy neighbor of mine. When we moved to our current duty station this neighbor felt it was her duty to tell my husband that she would talk with me concerning how I can get unemployment benefits. Um excuse me, but what right does anyone have to assume our work situation and educate me on how the system works without my asking for help? None. But yet she told me how I could obtain benefits and just live off that even though I knew I wasn't going to work but be a stay at home mom for a while. I wasn't going to actively look for work so why would I steal benefits from someone who actually needs them?
So how we do overhaul? Here's what I would do:
- You can apply for benefits for no more than six months in a three year period.
- You must be interviewed at least three times a week, if a job offer is made and you refuse it, no
more benefits for that three year period. (I know this seems insane, but just go with me)
- You must have proof of citizenship
- If you are found to be using your benefits for things other than housing, essential food,
transportation, clothes necessary for interviews and potential jobs then you will be banned from
collecting benefits-- meaning buying Xboxes, Louis Vuitton purses, expensive sneakers, etc.
This will be a lifetime ban, not just wait three years and apply again. People who pay into the
system don't work their tails off so you can use your unemployment benefits for unnecessary
luxury items.
I know that seems sort of crazy, but the fact is we as a society need to help people become less dependent on the government and learn how to be dependent upon themselves and take personal responsibility. Who knows, perhaps this would help aid in our fight against illegal immigrants. If more American citizens were taking jobs that normally are held by that group, then there's less incentive to just come into our country, get paid (and in some cases collect other entitlements) and send that money back to their home country. The money that legal citizens could put back into the system would definitely help. The bottom line is, honestly, unemployment is a privilege, not an entitlement and people need to realize that -- there's no reason that we should have to pay anyone.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Good News & Silver Linings
That's the theme this week after a few rough weeks. Sometimes we get so embroiled in the negativity and chaos surrounding us that we forget that there's always good news and/or silver linings to crappy situations. For us knowing that our bank would cover our mid-month paycheck if the government did shutdown was a silver lining, hearing that a bill had been passed unanimously through both houses to protect military pay during a shutdown was good (dare I say, excellent?) news. I know that some people thought that wasn't fair that the military would still get paid, however I think these people fail to remember that our troops are essential personnel and our first line of domestic defense. Plus, many troops don't have the cushy pay that other government jobs have to stash savings (try as we might but it is hard to do!). So, I'm going to throw out there what I think are positives of the shutdown, feel free to disagree.
With the President, Harry Reid and conservatives at odds with each other, they can't interfere with our lives. Seriously, it's nice to not have to worry about a nanny state being implemented on us. (Although there's been a joke since yesterday that I'm being targeted because I was having issues with the facebook page and had a report of not being able to view my blog by a friend) The government in the last few years has been increasingly encroaching our private lives, from the food we eat to whether or not we can have a certain number of rounds of ammunition in a magazine to whether or not you opt to have healthcare. Plus you add in all the PC hoopla and everyone must recognize everyone else (unless you're a straight, white, Christian then you must be ridiculed and punished). Having them argue with each other about all this is a nice little break for some people who are over how much input the government has in our everyday lives.
This next thing might sound insensitive, but when have I ever actually cared about that? I'm bummed that a shutdown doesn't mean that people can't get food stamps -- in the short term. From what I've been reading that if it goes long term, food stamps could be jeopardized on a state by state basis. Now why would this make me happy? Probably because lately there have been reports of rampant food stamp fraud. This is a program that desperately needs an overhaul to make sure that people who actually need the assistance get it, that it is only affordable healthy nutritious food they can receive (no more bakery sweets, no more pop, no more chips, no more lobster, no more steak, no more energy drinks, etc) and that they cannot use it to buy other items, nor can they transfer it to someone in order to get cash back. WIC will also be affected on a state to state basis as well as only so much of it is federally funded. I feel for those who get formula from WIC, I've been there with B when hubby was a private and we were making next to nothing so I get it. However, I do feel that as with food stamps, WIC could stand an overhaul too. It's very frustrating to go into the WIC office, see a parent with the latest smartphone fresh on the market, a new designer handbag, the kid is all decked out in expensive shoes and clothes and you see them in the parking lot and they're getting into a shiny new BMW still with the temp new tag on it. I will admit that I have an iPhone and it's fairly new because a) we had an upgrade b) it was a birthday present and c) hubby was deployed so we could afford to spend the $99 on an iPhone 4S (I didn't get the 5 because, why would I pay another $100 for essentially the same phone?) -- plus for over a year I had sucked it up and used my iPhone 4 that was crazy shattered just because I was not about ready to pay to replace it for the cost of my upgrade and it still functioned. Sorry, tangent. The fact is, with a government shutdown it's good for some programs to be put on hold because there won't be a crazy amount of fraud happening -- and maybe it will encourage people to buck up, find employment to help them get off welfare. Yeah, I just giggled a little bit too. And I'm ok if we get kicked off WIC, not because I'm all high and mighty and we can really afford to not be on WIC while still being in the level where we qualify, but because if there's a family who legitimately deserves to be on it more than we do, I'm ok with that.
Another good thing about this shutdown? And this might be my favorite story out of this mess, the the Greatest Generation kicking some ass yesterday. Personally, I think it's so stupid to barricade outdoor, open air monuments in the District but well you all should know well enough what I want to say about that. Anyway, how awesome is it that these WWII veterans were able to get past the barricades to see the monument dedicated to them? Pretty damn awesome, and thanks to the Congressional members who stood with the veterans, cut the tape and moved the barricades. Thank you to the Park Police for having enough respect for these men and women to not boot them out and arrest anyone involved. The fact is, the Honor Flight permits should have never been revoked and everyone in Congress and the President should have made sure that these veterans were treated with the respect they deserve and allowed their trips to continue without having to worry about the politics of it all. Perhaps, those on the Hill (and really the American people) should take a moment to recognize that they could learn a thing or two from the Greatest Generation. They watched the horrors of Hitler, they fought against it, when times got tough they rationed everything, they grew victory gardens, had pride in their country and rallied together to stop the greater evils in the world. They were proud to be Americans, maybe we've lost a little (or a lot) of that in the last several years and need it back, we need to be reminded that we were once a great country and we proud of that.
With the President, Harry Reid and conservatives at odds with each other, they can't interfere with our lives. Seriously, it's nice to not have to worry about a nanny state being implemented on us. (Although there's been a joke since yesterday that I'm being targeted because I was having issues with the facebook page and had a report of not being able to view my blog by a friend) The government in the last few years has been increasingly encroaching our private lives, from the food we eat to whether or not we can have a certain number of rounds of ammunition in a magazine to whether or not you opt to have healthcare. Plus you add in all the PC hoopla and everyone must recognize everyone else (unless you're a straight, white, Christian then you must be ridiculed and punished). Having them argue with each other about all this is a nice little break for some people who are over how much input the government has in our everyday lives.
This next thing might sound insensitive, but when have I ever actually cared about that? I'm bummed that a shutdown doesn't mean that people can't get food stamps -- in the short term. From what I've been reading that if it goes long term, food stamps could be jeopardized on a state by state basis. Now why would this make me happy? Probably because lately there have been reports of rampant food stamp fraud. This is a program that desperately needs an overhaul to make sure that people who actually need the assistance get it, that it is only affordable healthy nutritious food they can receive (no more bakery sweets, no more pop, no more chips, no more lobster, no more steak, no more energy drinks, etc) and that they cannot use it to buy other items, nor can they transfer it to someone in order to get cash back. WIC will also be affected on a state to state basis as well as only so much of it is federally funded. I feel for those who get formula from WIC, I've been there with B when hubby was a private and we were making next to nothing so I get it. However, I do feel that as with food stamps, WIC could stand an overhaul too. It's very frustrating to go into the WIC office, see a parent with the latest smartphone fresh on the market, a new designer handbag, the kid is all decked out in expensive shoes and clothes and you see them in the parking lot and they're getting into a shiny new BMW still with the temp new tag on it. I will admit that I have an iPhone and it's fairly new because a) we had an upgrade b) it was a birthday present and c) hubby was deployed so we could afford to spend the $99 on an iPhone 4S (I didn't get the 5 because, why would I pay another $100 for essentially the same phone?) -- plus for over a year I had sucked it up and used my iPhone 4 that was crazy shattered just because I was not about ready to pay to replace it for the cost of my upgrade and it still functioned. Sorry, tangent. The fact is, with a government shutdown it's good for some programs to be put on hold because there won't be a crazy amount of fraud happening -- and maybe it will encourage people to buck up, find employment to help them get off welfare. Yeah, I just giggled a little bit too. And I'm ok if we get kicked off WIC, not because I'm all high and mighty and we can really afford to not be on WIC while still being in the level where we qualify, but because if there's a family who legitimately deserves to be on it more than we do, I'm ok with that.
Another good thing about this shutdown? And this might be my favorite story out of this mess, the the Greatest Generation kicking some ass yesterday. Personally, I think it's so stupid to barricade outdoor, open air monuments in the District but well you all should know well enough what I want to say about that. Anyway, how awesome is it that these WWII veterans were able to get past the barricades to see the monument dedicated to them? Pretty damn awesome, and thanks to the Congressional members who stood with the veterans, cut the tape and moved the barricades. Thank you to the Park Police for having enough respect for these men and women to not boot them out and arrest anyone involved. The fact is, the Honor Flight permits should have never been revoked and everyone in Congress and the President should have made sure that these veterans were treated with the respect they deserve and allowed their trips to continue without having to worry about the politics of it all. Perhaps, those on the Hill (and really the American people) should take a moment to recognize that they could learn a thing or two from the Greatest Generation. They watched the horrors of Hitler, they fought against it, when times got tough they rationed everything, they grew victory gardens, had pride in their country and rallied together to stop the greater evils in the world. They were proud to be Americans, maybe we've lost a little (or a lot) of that in the last several years and need it back, we need to be reminded that we were once a great country and we proud of that.
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